With HBO going through some very public upheaval with major executive changes and creative switch-ups, one of the most heartbreaking casualties was the cancellation of “Togetherness.” The dramedy series from Mark and Jay Duplass didn’t feature explicit sex, huge fantasy worlds, or even a hip soundtrack — but that was exactly what made it special. It was an ordinary show, about ordinary people, facing regular problems, but executed with a commitment to character, that drew the drama close to your heart.
The network’s decision to shut down the show shocked many, including its creators, and stopping by The New Hollywood podcast, Jay Duplass shared his reaction to “Togetherness” getting canned, and his observations on what exactly is happening right now at HBO. The writer/director posits that the downside to peak television is that with so much good programming to choose from, everyone has modest viewer numbers, so networks are trying to figure out what exactly that means for their traditional model.
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“[We were] very surprised. We had written the first half of season three, and we had already conceived the second half of season three. And it seemed like we were going [to get renewed]. But we know, if not better than most people, that the television model is changing and that no one knows how to do it,” Duplass said. “No one knows what’s the right way to do things and I think HBO is going through a lot of changes right now and they’re trying to figure out how they’re going to adapt to it. It was a surprise given the specificity of our experience and how much everyone seemed to love the show, and how much everyone at HBO genuinely did love the show. But we also know we’re in the Wild West right now, and anything can happen.”
“I don’t know for sure, but I think numbers had something to do with it. I think it’s more just them trying to figure out where they’re going, and what they’re trying to do next to be able to live and compete [in a post-‘Game Of Thrones’ world],” he added, noting that the fantasy series, the biggest show on HBO, is set to wrap in couple of years.
It has certainly become a much more competitive atmosphere, with nearly every media company launching some kind of original programming slate, and Duplass cites it as one of the reasons HBO seems to be in flux at the moment. However, he has nothing but positive things to say about his experience there, and credits the network with helping him grow as a filmmaker and storyteller.
“I think five years ago, HBO had the corner on the market. No one we knew even liked TV five years ago, they just liked HBO. And so, they had no competition. But it’s different now. There’s so much good stuff out there, and it’s tough. It’s a brand new world,” he said.
“The truth is I don’t know exactly where HBO is going, and I’m not sure they know exactly where they’re going right now. The way that I feel about it is, they let us tell our story,” Duplass continued. “They helped us transition from being feature filmmakers to television makers which doesn’t always happen, doesn’t always pan out. Some feature filmmakers just can’t change the mindset for that open universe, they helped us do that. And they never once stopped us from doing anything we wanted to do with the show. We did exactly what we wanted to do. They supported us, they marketed the stuff, they got it out there, and they believed in us, and we had two great seasons. So it’s weird, everyone on Twitter is so pissed off, and I’m just like, I am so thrilled that I had the opportunity to make this.”
And as long as HBO continues to have that reputation as a haven for creative talent, they will be able to endure, and certainly overcome the current bump in the road. Listen